OBJECTIVES: Medication adherence rates (using the MPR) were assessed among asthmatic patients who are under therapy with an inhaled long-acting beta2-agonist + corticosteroids (LABA+ICS) or a fixed fluticasone/salmeterol combination (FSC).The differences between patients, who stick to their therapy, compared to those, who switch between different regimes or agents were analysed. METHODS: Claims data were drawn from the IMS Database. Patients with asthma (°Ý18 years) who are under inhaled therapy according to the National Disease Management Guideline for Germany were identified. The percentages of patients who had a switch in medications were determined. In sub-analyses patients who were new to their therapy and patients with concomitant (add on) medications were also assessed. RESULTS: Compared with patients who received the FSC, those receiving LABA+ICS were more likely to have a switch in medication (35% versus 26%) and to use add on medications (54% versus 35%). The highest proportion of adequately adherent (°Ý70%) patients was among those switching between medications. About 64% of the FSC cohort showed good adherence with an average MPR of 72%. In contrast only 15% of the patients using LABA+ICS were adequately adherent with an average MPR of 31%. Patients continuing to take their existing FS combination were on average 63% adherent; however even in this group, only 48% exhibited adequate adherence. The sub-analyses showed that patients who were new to anti-asthmatic medications had the worst medication adherence (59% for FSC; 8% for LABA+ICS). Patients with add on medication (as a surrogate for severe asthma) showed a mean MPR of 74% in the FSC and 39% in the LABA+ICS cohort. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the FSC combination was associated with less treatment switching and less use of concomitant medications. Furthermore the FSC cohort showed a better average medication adherence and a higher proportion of adequate adherent patients.